Thank you.
Ms. Hébert, I was looking over today's agenda a little earlier on. I was wondering what you would do, surrounded as you are by combine-harvesters, steel, batteries, mines and two groups of accountants. I told myself that it would do them good to have you here.
Further, our anglophone colleagues never wonder whether they should express themselves in English: they just speak English. So, thank you, Ms. Hébert, for having spoken only in your language, since respect begins with self-respect.
That being said, you highlighted increased challenges for the arts sector. I really liked your use of the expression sustainable development, which reflects the times we live in. For all intents and purposes, you are asking that governments invest more and increase their commitment towards the arts sector, and to treat it as more than just the flavour of the week. You are asking governments to take a long-term view, especially as regards international promotion of the arts. I believe that everyone here, in every sector, understands that when you decide to organize a trade fair, whether it be for steel or batteries, that it takes more than a year to do so. You also have products to sell.
I would like to you to speak to that in greater detail. I would also like you to explain your expression “cultural diplomacy”: It seems that there have been major cutbacks in any international support we give to artists. If I understand correctly, as soon as artists leave a country, they are on their own.